Agastache plant named ‘AGA 304’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Agastache  plant named ‘AGA 304’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and open plant habit; freely branching habit; long inflorescences with purple-colored flowers; freely and continuous flowering habit; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Agastache mexicana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘AGA 304’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Agastache, botanically known as Agastache mexicana and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘AGA 304’.

The new Agastache is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hann. Münden, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to create to new Agastache cultivars with large and dense inflorescences and attractive flower coloration.

The new Agastache originated from an open-pollination during the summer of 2003 in Hann. Münden, Germany, of an unnamed selection of Agastache mexicana, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Agastache mexicana as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Agastache was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Hann. Münden, Germany during the summer of 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Agastache by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Hann. Münden, Germany during the winter of 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Agastache are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar AGA 304 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘AGA 304’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘AGA 304’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Agastache:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and open plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Long inflorescences with purple-colored flowers.     -   4. Freely and continuous flowering habit.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Compared to plants of the female parent selection, plants of the new Agastache are more compact and differ in flower coloration.

Plants of the new Agastache can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Acapulco Rose-Red, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hann. Münden, Germany, plants of the new Agastache and the cultivar Acapulco Rose-Red differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Agastache had lighter red-colored flower         buds than plants of the cultivar Acapulco Rose-red.     -   2. Plants of the new Agastache had smaller flowers than plants         of the cultivar Acapulco Rose-Red.     -   3. Plants of the new Agastache had darker colored flowers than         plants of the cultivar Acapulco Rose-Red.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Agastache, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differs slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Agastache.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘AGA 304’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘AGA 304’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Loudon, New Hampshire during the winter and under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 21° C. and night temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 18° C. After planting, plants were pinched one time. Plants had been growing for about 14 weeks when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Agastache mexicana cultivar AGA 304. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Agastache             mexicana, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Agastache             mexicana, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 15 to 20 days at 22°             C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three to four weeks at             20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant roots, summer.—About             four weeks at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant roots, winter.—About             five weeks at 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; 158C in color. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and             open plant habit; vigorous growth habit. Freely branching             habit with about five lateral branches, each with several             secondary branches; pinching enhances branching potential.         -   Plant height.—About 40 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 33 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 28 cm. Diameter: About             4.5 mm. Internode length: About 5.75 cm. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 6.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Deltoid.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Truncate with cordate tendencies.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Sparsely pubescent; glandular.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: 137B. Developing             leaves, lower surface: 138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: 147A; venation, 147B. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: 147B; venation, 147C.         -   Petiole length.—About 3.1 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Petiole color, upper surface.—146A.         -   Petiole color, lower surface.—146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Numerous single bilabiate flowers             arranged in verticillasters arranged in axillary long             spikes. Individual flowers face mostly outward. Freely             flowering habit with about 105 flowers and flower buds per             spike. Flowers persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower from late June             through September in the Northern Hemisphere; flowering             continuous during this period.         -   Inflorescence longevity on the plant.—About three to four             weeks.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence length.—About 6.2 cm.         -   Inflorescence width.—About 4.2 cm.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Zygomorphic; bilabiate. Length: About             2.4 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm by 7 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Shape: Obovate; curved. Color: 172B to 172C.         -   Corolla.—Petal arrangement/appearance: Bilabiate; five             petals, upper two petals fused and lower three petals fused,             all five petals fused at base into a tubular structure.             Petal length: Upper petals, lobes: About 4 mm. Lower petals,             lobes: About 5 mm. Petal width: Upper petals, lobes: About             2 mm. Lower petals, lobes: About 4 mm. Petal apex: Rounded             to broadly acute. Petal margin: Upper petals: Entire. Lower             petals: Praemorse. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Petal color: When opening, upper surface:             77C. When opening, lower surface: 77D. Fully opened, upper             surface: 77B. Fully opened, lower surface: 77C; tube, 75B to             75C.         -   Calyx.—Quantity/arrangement: One single calyx tube per             flower; five fused sepals. Length: About 1 mm. Diameter:             Less than 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture,             lower surface: Pubescent. Color, upper surface: 145C. Color,             lower surface: Towards the apex, 186D; fused portion, 145A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 8 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Strength: Strong. Angle: Erect to about 45° from vertical.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm.             Strength: Strong. Angle: About 30° to 40° from peduncle             axis. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 148C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four.             Filament length: About 1.8 cm to 2 cm. Filament color: 75A.             Anther shape: Bi-lobed. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther             color: 71A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 198D.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             2.7 cm. Style length: About 2.4 mm. Style color: 91C. Stigma             shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: 77B. Ovary color: 145A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed not fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Agastache have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Agastache. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Agastache have been observed     to have good garden performance and to be tolerant to rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 0° C. to 38° C. 

1. A new and distinct Agastache plant named ‘AGA 304’ as illustrated and described. 